People above Party

Having just watched the first press conference of our new coalition government I have to say I was impressed. Cameron and Clegg came across as composed, mature and collegial. I know it is early days, but it's as if they've had an epiphany and seen a mutual vision of a cooperative future, one where being combative and point scoring isn't going to get them anywhere. A future where the people matter more than the political parties. In the sunny garden of Number 10 Downing Street, there were even birds singing – hopefully auguring well for an attuned duet. Perhaps we can even hope for Socratic dialogue rather than put-down arguments…and even some Big Love for our Big Society?

Collaboration

They appear realistic about the challenges they face – they know it's not going to be a picnic; they've inherited a big mess. They also know there are going to be sticking points where they will have to dig deep and reach compromises they wouldn't have previously entertained. This coalition makes them more accountable; accountable to each other, accountable to their ministers, to MPs, and accountable to the electorate. The country, after all, is made up of people – you and me, and everyone else – and we said we didn't want a single party governing. We got exactly what we voted for. A new style of politics, a new collaboration.

Responsibility, R-Evolution

And as they're inviting us to be part of the government, promising to deliver us from 'nanny-stateism', returning us to responsibility and self-empowerment, then we too have to play our part. We may have to relearn how to be decisive and forward thinking. We may have to challenge the press and media on being divisive and adversarial. It's going to be a new style for them – they're used to playing one off against the other and being cynical and pessimistic. Even now they are expressing disbelief and dragging up comments made when Cameron and Clegg were opponents, not allies. It's one thing to be an objective reporter and observer, another to be destructive and carping.

How refreshing would it be if the people and the media could get behind what is a courageous move and encourage this revolution we're part of? How much energy and will would that put behind the tough tasks the government faces? Could it smooth the way and make the rebuilding faster, smoother, stronger?

In my garden the other evening we noticed and loved this amazing effect so, inspired, I captured the scene; it was a beautiful dry evening, no rain or moisture on the tree, purely the effects of the sunset rays transforming the tree so it looks as if it is full of golden lights against the evening sky – the ultimate natural resource.

Or does it?

This picture was taken directly above the camels in the desert at sunset.

It is considered one of the best pictures of its year.

The camels are the whitish flecks.
The black camel shapes are the shadows!

(with thanks to Emmanuel Elliott for sending this through)

So I’m prompted here to wonder about how we see and interpret things, and the meaning we make from them – the shadows in this photograph are bigger, bolder, capture the attention and look as if they represent reality, as if they are the camels. Then we discover that the real camels are the tiny spots of light, overshadowed by their shadows. It’s like an optical illusion, and reminds me of The Allegory of the Cave in Plato’s best-known work, The Republic.

How often are we afraid of what is really only a shadow, a trick of the light? Something we avoid or don’t do because we mis-perceive a monster lurking, a large object in the way, when the reality is a spot of light?

How often are we seduced by the outer, louder, more obvious in our lives, and therefore miss the subtle, the sensitive, that which requires us to go deeper and reflect, or take an uncommon perspective and see value and beauty in the less familiar? So much depends on the way we look at things – can we walk around our own thoughts, our biases and long-held opinions and beliefs, and find greater value than we have previously dreamt?

Like the optical illusion books popular a few years ago, which reveal a hidden image when you view them in a certain way, our world can reward us with fresh ideas and possibilities if we take the time to shift our position, reconsider our point of view and see things differently.